Post Vacation Depression - a myth or reality?

Goodbye summer, hello autumn – Back to routine, back to life

After holidays many people report feeling tired, unmotivated or even melancholic. Some call it Post Vacation Depression – but is that the right term?

Clinically speaking, depression has very specific diagnostic criteria such as depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, fatigue and loss of energy or sleeping disorders - to name a few -  which last for at least two weeks.

What most of us experience after a holiday is different: a temporary low mood which usually goes away on its own within few days, I personally like to call it Post Holiday Blues.

It is not a psychological disorder, but a common reaction to the contrast experienced between relaxation during vacation and the return to everyday responsibilities. It can be seen as an invitation to ask yourself: Which unfulfilled needs are speaking here? What is your heart really longing for?

How to deal with or even prevent post holiday blues?

-) Allow one or two days for transition after returning back home instead of jumping straight into a full schedule.

-) Small rituals from your vacation can also be carried into daily life – like going for walks, taking time for your morning coffee or exploring new places in your own city.

-) And my favorite: Anticipation helps (die gute alte Vorfreude 😊 ) – plan your next short trip or little breaks.

I recently shared my perspective on this topic in an interview with Wiener Zeitung– thank you for this opportunity.

You can watch the interview here (German only): Post Vacation Depression